Church Road McDonald Series Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2025

Church Road McDonald Series Hawke's Bay Chardonnay is sourced predominantly from the lower Tuki Tuki Valley, where calcareous clay soils over alluvial gravels and a cooling afternoon sea breeze combine to give the fruit real mineral drive and fresh acidity. Hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed, then fermented wild in French oak with a portion matured on full yeast lees for around eight months, it's a medium-bodied, supple Chardonnay built around ripe stonefruit, fresh citrus and floral notes. Subtle complexities of gunflint, cashew nut and freshly baked bread add real depth without ever tipping into heaviness. It's drinking exceptionally well right now, with enough structure to keep developing gracefully for four years or more.

What the winery says: A medium bodied, supple Chardonnay balanced by a fine seam of fresh acidity with beautifully ripe stonefruit, fresh citrus and floral notes, overlaid with subtle complexities of gunflint, cashew nut and freshly baked bread. Sourced predominantly from the lower Tuki Tuki Valley, where calcareous clay loam soils over alluvial gravels lend a mineral edge and the cooling afternoon sea breeze helps retain fragrance and fresh acidity. Hand-harvested fruit was whole-bunch pressed and underwent wild primary and malolactic fermentation in French oak, with 25% new oak used and the wine matured on full yeast lees for around eight months. Already drinking exceptionally well, with careful cellaring it should continue to mature gracefully for four years or more.